November 15, 2017

I've been slowly working on this travel scrapbook journal ever since we got back from our trip to Europe last November. I actually started making the book on the trip and packed a little kit of papers and essentials to take with me that fitted snugly in my luggage.

The pages of this book are mostly made using envelopes, with a few different items such as cards and paper bags, thrown in for good measure. The beauty of the construction of this type of book is that the pages don't have to be identical in size and/or shape, so you can really add whatever you like to it. It also lays nice and flat despite having quite a lot of stuff on the pages and in the pockets, because of the way it's made.

If you're like me, you're a bit of a bower bird and, especially when I'm travelling, I seem to accumulate a collection of bits and bobs along the way. (aka. precious treasures, that I simply MUST keep!) The bonus in making this type of book is that all those little treasures can be stored together WITH the photos so you can see everything at once.

This way this book is constructed is one of my favourite go to techniques and probably the easiest to make. I put together a You Tube video (below) to share with you, which walks you through the internal pages of this unfinished book. The video goes for about 10 minutes and you'll have to excuse my croaky voice, my rambling thought patterns and scary old lady hands, but I hope it may inspire you to create a book of your own.

Stay tuned for a more detailed "how to" construct this type of book in the next week or so. I'm also planning to share with you how the cover was made, and eventually I'm hoping to be able to show you a finished album! yay!

November 03, 2017

Is there anything better than new cute stationery? There probably are lots of things, but this week I found a few really cool items that made me smile.

One of them is my "ultimate" notebook. I started thinking about what would be perfect for me, right now:

A5 size - not too big to fit in my handbag, not too small to write in

A zip pocket - for storing business receipts and fabric samples on the go

Pages that can be used for designing, writing lists, note taking and jotting down ideas

Spiral bound - so pages that can be easily torn out and transferred to client project folders

So with this list in mind, I headed off to Officeworks....and voila! There it was! My ultimate notebook. It was like I MADE IT HAPPEN!

And then (of course) I made it mine.

Super cute, right? And by some magical co-incidence, the colour of the elastic band totally works with one of my Wendle Handmade stickers. Like it was "meant - to - be".

I also made some dividers for the main part of the notepad, because I like keeping stuff organised.

To do this, I ripped out a page to use for a template, traced the holes to punch on some scraps of pink cardstock and then just snipped the back of the holes to slip around the metal rings. See how cool the pages are too, the dots are great for designing, but also good for writing.

September 26, 2017

Is it just me or does everyone feel inspired by the Golden Crumpets ad on TV right now?

If you haven't seen it yet, check it out

If a crumpet can do it, then can't we?

Anyhoo....emboldened by the feisty crumpet, that's pretty much what I'm doing now, and I don't just mean adding avocado to everything (which I do anyway - the crumpet is NOT getting credit for that idea). I mean that I've jumped off the corporate treadmill and am finding my own way and it feels pretty magical.

Apart from having fun setting up Wendle Handmade biz, I've got a few creative jobs on the go this week. I'm working on some costume sewing jobs, a sewing job for a kinder (new art smocks) and some fun little arty projects in between, such as this random little item that I started working on yesterday.

I'd like to see Mr Fancy Avocado Crumpet make anything so adorable. Ha!.

The little birds are from aKaisercraftpaper pad and the box tray is packaging from Typoeverything else I'm using is random scrappage - which is totally a legit word ;) - I'll share in full when it's finished.

What have you been working on lately? Have you been making your own kind of music? I highly recommend.....and crumpets.

January 20, 2013

I wished the floorboards in my office/play room were polished. The floor had been left unfinished for over 10 years, but my wonderful hubby finally did it, sanding and sealing in the hottest of days. (What a trouper!) The boards are super old, baltic pine that we recycled from another part of the house. They've come up a treat and feel so lovely to walk on with bare feet.

But....just look at those empty shelves just crying out to be filled. I've spent the last two weekends trying to sort through all my craft stuff and find pretty ways to store it as I put it back in. I have to say it's pretty overwhelming because i have WAY TOO MUCH STUFF!!! eep!

Also I keep distracting myself with little side projects, such as this canvas Chelsea gave me for Christmas. It fits perfectly into this spot next to the window, but I didn't like everything it said, so I decided to change up some of the words before I put it back on the wall.

And remember the weekend project where I showed you how to use a paper shopping bag to make a storage box? Well I made another one and gave them both a colourful makeover while I was at it.

...

With all the moving, sorting and tidying, not much else has been happening.

I went straight back to work after Christmas, Chelsea has been working and coaching calisthenic solos, Peter is on holiday at home (Mr Fixit-ing) and Harry has just got back from a week at Diabetes Camp.

This is what Harry looked like before he went to camp (he didn't look or smell so nice as this when he returned). haha

January 03, 2013

One of my favourite ways to wrap up the year is by putting together a small album which captures the basic who, what and where of our family. I always make 3, one for us to keep, and one each for the grandparents.

The books came together very quickly using envelopes, chipboard and scrapbook supplies and the good news for you is that I've put together a free step-by-step guide that you can use to make one (or 3) of these books for yourself. :)

If you're interested, simply click on the free projects link in the header, or HERE and start getting your craft on, 2013 style!

December 16, 2012

We held a 21st Birthday BBQ in our backyard last night for my gorgeous girl Chelsea.

It was a huge amount of work to prepare for, as during the busiest time of the year we decided to demolish our old cubby house in order to make extra space in the yard (as you do - haha). And then there was the question of where to store all the stuff that had been dumped in the cubby for the past few years. oh dear!

It was well worth the effort though as it was a huge improvement to the yard. I also hung my homemade jarlights and crochet bunting in the trees along the fence and draped fabric bunting in the marquis. Along with all the fairy lights twinkling in the jacaranda trees, our yard has never looked prettier. Chelsea looked very pretty too - don't you think? :)

It was a lovely night with just a few special friends and thankfully they all left to head out to a nightclub because by 10 o'clock I could barely keep my eyes open! (haha .... I'm so old!)

Today has been nice and quiet and the only "task" on my agenda is to make my Christmas cards. Something I always enjoy doing.

December 11, 2012

Time to put up the Christmas Tree. I started with a gathering of supplies and ideas: ribbons purchased at Provincial Home Living - idea for pom poms thanks to Mandy Lynne and found on Pinterest - scraps of fabric and wool from my stash.

And here's how it all came together.

I tied the ribbon into bows and strung them on the tree with poms. (I kinda made up my own method of creating pom poms and they came out a bit scrappy, more like a pom, than a pom pom - if you get my drift - haha.)

I also hung the tree with some hand stitched fabric hearts and stuck a little crochet dude on top. yay!

December 02, 2012

When the inspiration hits you've really got to just drop everything and do it!

I know I say that all the time, but despite being super busy this weekend I actually heeded that advice, and the result is a new free project to share with you. Perfect for party season, these jarlights look so pretty hanging around the backyard and are super easy to make. yay!

So, grab some empty jam jars and head on over to the free projects blog. You'll be amazed at how quickly these come together.

November 20, 2012

While running errands at the newsagents for work on Monday, I happened upon a back issue of Mollie Makes. (yay!)

The magazine came with a gift pack of cute pearly buttons. (double yay!)

I was so inspired that I made some button art when I got home from work. (triple yay!)

I used the free MM buttons on this first one. I cut a heart shape out of chipboard and covered it with old book paper and rubbed the edges with red ink. Then I glued the button into position using Glossy Accents glue. Next I glued a sheet of paper to the front of the canvas and rubbed ink around the edges of it. I finished the canvas off by wrapping some red spotty washi tape around the sides.

For the second piece, I raided my stash and found some vintage pearly blue buttons and a crochet frame (from Typo). I covered the front of the canvas with some 7gypsies patterned paper, glued a scrap of text paper behind the centre of the frame and filled it in with buttons. Then I and glued it to the centre of the canvas. I finished off by wrapping black stripey washi tape around the sides of the canvas.

For my final piece, I dug around in my never-ending stash of craft supplies and found a large round chipboard frame, a couple of scraps of patterned paper and some buttons. I cut patterned paper to fit inside the frame, then glued the buttons on top. I covered the front of the canvas with text paper and glued the finished frame in place on top. Can you guess my final step?..... that's right! washi tape around the edges haha

Here's how they look on the wall. They're 10cm x 10cm canvases, so cute!

Some important points:

1. ALWAYS strike when the inspiration hits you, even if it means dinner will be served late (again).

2. Glossy Accents glue is perfect for this kind of project because it sets crystal clear, is super strong and gives you time to move things about before it sets.

3. I don't get paid to promote any of these products or companies, I just like to recommend stuff I use that I think is awesome.